Con-com told to ‘disengage’ with Mocha over federalism info role

Palace Communications Secretary Martin Andanar on Monday told a member of the Consultative Committee (Con-com)  to "disengage" with plans to have Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson as a federalism information disseminator.

"Nagkausap kami ni (Con-com) spokesperson Ding Generoso sapagkat sabi ko nga sa kaniya, dapat ay magdisengage na siya sa kanyang pakikipag-usap sa grupo ni Mocha... mainit na yung sitwasyon," Andanar said in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV.

In a separate message to GMA News Online, Andanar clarified that Uson was appointed one of the faces for federalism through Generoso's "own volition."

"Again, there was no appointment from the inter-agency," he said, adding in his interview on dzBB, "Hindi po yan approved ng committee nung nag-meeting po noong nakaraang Tuesday."

GMA News Online has reached out to Generoso for his comments but the Con-com spokesperson has yet to reply.

Uson's "Good News Game Show" segment where co-host Drew Olivar did a questionable dance about federalism has drawn flak from netizens and government officials alike.

Medialdea displeased

Meanwhile, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea was reportedly displeased with Uson's involvement even before the release of the controversial video.

"Bago pa man lumabas yang video na 'yan, hindi po natuwa si executive secretary," Andanar said. "Ang sabi po ni ES, federalism is a very serious matter na kailangan yung dapat tagapagsalita dito ay sila ex-CJ [Reynato] Puno."

Puno headed the Con-com.

A meeting was held on Tuesday at the behest of Medialdea for the second time to discuss strategies on how to communicate federalism to laypersons.

It was during this meeting that members of the 22-member Con-com that created a draft for the federal constitution will be the talking heads of the campaign along with selected cabinet members.

"Approved advocates" of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) will also be approved.

"Wala po talaga. In fact, last Tuesday, hindi din naman sinabi sa 'min din sa committee na in charge dito sa communications pati sa DILG na—wala pong pinag-usapan na Asec. Mocha," Andanar said.

Medialdea then asked Andanar who appointed Uson in another meeting on Saturday, at which point the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary gave him Generoso's number.

Platform, not speakers

Andanar said the PCOO will serve as the media platform on which information on federalism will be passed through.

"Wala pong sinabi doon na yung PCOO ang magiging mensahero. We are just merely the bridge, kami lang po yung tulay, iba po yung mensahero," Andanar said.

Netizens questioned Uson's capabilities to effectively raise awareness about federalism to the masses, while federalism advocate Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III asked her to step away from discussing it.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said federalism should be discussed seriously and, in a tweet that did not directly refer to the dance, Senate President Vicente Sotto III said theatrics will not work for such discussions. — RSJ, GMA News